Conjugates of folate anti-effector cell antibodies

Abstract

The present invention provides a process of targeting folate-receptor-positive tumor cells for lysis by binding a conjugate of folate and an anti-T-cell-receptor antibody or an anti-Fc receptor antibody to those cells. A process of lysing folate-receptor-positive tumor cells comprising exposing the cells to a folate/anti-T-cell-receptor antibody in the presence of a population of T-cells is also provided. A process of lysing folate-receptor-positive tumor cells comprising exposing the cells to a folate/anti-Fc receptor antibody in the presence of a population of natural killer cells, monocytes, or macrophages is also provided. Still further, the present invention provides a conjugate of folate to an anti-T-cell-receptor antibody or an anti-Fc receptor antibody.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A process of targeting a folate-receptor-positive tumor cell for lysis comprising binding to the tumor cell an effective targeting amount of a conjugate of an anti-T-cell-receptor antibody and folate or an analogue of folate having high affinity for the folate receptor, wherein the folate-receptor-positive tumor cell is a folate- receptor-α-positive tumor cell or a folate-receptor-β-positive tumor cell. 
     
     
       2. The process of claim 1 wherein binding is accomplished by exposing the tumor cell to the conjugate and maintaining the cell under physiological conditions and for a period of time sufficient for the conjugate to bind to the cell. 
     
     
       3. The process of claim 1 wherein the anti-T-cell-receptor antibody is a monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
       4. A process of lysing a folate-receptor-α-or β-positive tumor cell comprising exposing the tumor cell to a population of T-cells in the presence of an effective targeting amount of a conjugate of an anti-T-cell-receptor antibody and folate or an analogue of folate having high affinity for the folate receptor and maintaining the cells for a period of time sufficient for lysis. 
     
     
       5. A conjugate of an anti-T-cell-receptor antibody and folate or an analogue of folate having high affinity for an α- or β-folate receptor. 
     
     
       6. The conjugate of claim 5 wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody.